CUNARD LINER

Southland Times, Issue 21578, 16 December 1931, Page 5

CUNARD LINER

HOPEFUL VIEW OF POSITION. (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) London, December 14. ‘The position is not so bad as it looks and I hope for some discussion within a week,” said Mr J. Kirkwood, M.P., after an hour’s conference with the authorities at Brown's shipyards in relation to the suspension of work on the Cunarder. HULL BEING KEPT IN ORDER. (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Rugby, December 14. A hundred Clydeside shipwrights have been retained to keep in order the hull of the giant Cunarder pending a resumption of work upon her. Hopes are expressed that this may be possible within a few months. Work on the liner is well advanced. The vessel was designed to attain a speed of more than 30 knots, and it would have been the fastest afloat. It was expected that the launching would have taken place in February. Work on the vessel at the Clyde yards of John Brown and Company had been greatly speeded up. Factories and foundries throughout Britain were supplying material and were -working 24 hours a day. The stocks on which the liner is taking shape have proved too small. Part of the stern is hanging over the river. A great expanse of the banks of the Clyde was cut away at a cost of £BO,OOO to provide room for the launching. WORK ON FRENCH VESSEL. Paris, December 14. The French company denies that it is considering suspending work on the liner He de France, and states that only the withdrawal of Government support could cause a stoppage.